| Claus Kurssell's coup | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Sweden Supported by  Reval | Mercenaries | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
John III Nils Dobblare Clas Åkesson Tott |
Claus Kurssell  | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| At least 300 knights | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Almost everyone captured | ||||||||
Claus Kurssell's coup was a revolt by German mercenaries in the then Swedish city of Reval (modern day Tallinn); the perpetrators temporarily had control of the city's castle before John III sent Nils Dobblare to intervene and recapture it.
Background
During the Long wrath, the Swedish holdings in Estonia became increasingly insecure, mainly due to the fact that they were mostly supported German or Baltic mercenaries. The largest of the Swedish holdings was the city of Reval, which the Swedes had managed to take by bribing local mercenaries.
Coup
Beginning
Dissatisfaction over their pay being insufficient or not being delivered at all irritated the German mercenaries relationship with the Swedish crown, and it escalated to a crisis in January 1570 when King John wanted Kurssell and his troops to instead serve in Sweden and receive their pay there.
Capture of Reval castle
In the night, Kurssell and his troops overwhelmed the people who were loyal to Sweden and captured Reval castle, where they also took governor Gabriel Oxenstierna hostage. Through this action, Kurssell also got in contact with a certain Danish prince by the name of Magnus, who had recently come in control of Ösel.
The Swedish council quickly brokered an agreement of where Kurssell released Gabriel Oxenstierna, in exchange that the castle would remain in Kurssell's possession until Pentecost Sunday when it was expected that John III would have paid the owed amount.
Outside reaction
From the Swedish perspective, Kurssell was suspected of being in cooperation with Sweden's enemies. Duke Charles (later Charles IX) persuaded John III to negotiate with Kurssell, whom he believed to be an "honest and sincere man". Despite this, quick countermeasures took place. Revals loyalty to John isolated Kurssell, and the Estonian nobility remained neutral.
Nils Dobblare's coup
Nils Dobblare, who at that time occupied Domberget, had kept in touch with two knights who had fled to the castle. Dobblare began collecting money to start gambling parties among Kurssell's troops, who would use the money for "beer and fun". After the knights had become thoroughly drunk, the two knights pulled down a rope ladder, and with the help of Dobbler they were able to secretly get 300 knights into the castle. Kurssell and his knights were surprised and quickly overwhelmed, and Dobblare took back "with long pipes" what he had spent on the gambling parties. Kurssell and other important figures were taken captive, and Kurssell was later executed in June.
Aftermath
John III later wrote to Dobblare about his successful mission in retaking the castle, and he allowed Dobblare to keep Kurssell's golden chain.
References
- "TOTT, Clas Åkesson". BLF (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ Adolfsson, Mats (2007). Svenska uppror / [2] Fogdemakt och bondevrede : 1500- 1718 (in Swedish). Internet Archive. Stockholm : Natur och Kultur. pp. 177–178. ISBN 978-91-27-35690-0.
- ^ "Claus Kurssell". sok.riksarkivet.se. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "Nils Dobblare". sok.riksarkivet.se. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ Grimberg, Carl. "383 (Svenska folkets underbara öden / II. Äldre Vasatiden 1521-1611)". runeberg.org (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- "Livonian household troops during the Livonian war/ Liivimaa moisamehed liivi soja perioodil. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2024-04-02.